Day 2 CNY at Pulau Hantu

I continue my reef walk at Pulau Hantu on the 2nd day of CNY. This is also my first trip to Pulau Hantu this year. My last trip there was about a year ago with the Hantu Bloggers.
It was really special to see a school of razor fish in the inter-tidal area. Without the need to put on all the diving gear!

and also this beautiful Orange-banded butterflyfish (Coradion chrysozonus)
A common sea star (Archaster typicus)

Red swimmng crabsand this juveniles flower crab. I'm not sure why there are so many different patterns on the carapace.We saw this cute cuttle fishWe also witness the magician in actions. It changes it's colour so rapidly to match and blend with the environment!We also saw quite a lot of slugs such as the Gymmodoris rublopabulosa above.a Phyllidia pustulosaPolka dot (Jorunna funebris)Discodoris boholensisand a Acanthozoon sp. flatworm.different colours of feather star. Like other echinoderms, feather stars have radial symmetry with numerous arms project from a central disc. However, the major difference as compare to other sea star is their feedings habot. Feather stars are filter feeders and their mouth is on the upperside rather than bottom as with other sea stars.This turban shell almost invisible with the colour almost the same with the substrate.

There are a lot more animals that was spotted. Lets wait for others to put up their blog later.

Day 1 CNY at Big Sister Island

After visit friends & relatives in the morning on Day 1 of Chinese New Year, I join the Wildfilm for the exploration at Big Sister Island.
This is my first visit to this beautiful southern island.

The tide wasn't very low when we arrived. From the surface saw some very bright green thing under the water and I'm not sure what it is until I took a underwater shot. Is actually Caulerpa serrulata green algae or seaweed.

We saw quite a number of spider conch (Lambis lambis) and they are so well camouflage.This spider conch even have corals living on the shell.

Once you turn it over, it is a very shy and beautiful animal. They have a pair of long stalks eyes ensures good vision.
We also spotted quite a few of slug today. Photo on top is a Phyllidia varicosa nudibranch.

A rather small polka dot nudi (Jorunna funebris)

Elysia sp.

Not too sure about this tiny nudi that was spotted by CH.

Another beautiful flatworm

There are also lots of beautiful mushroom corals on Big Sister Island. This one probably a Fungi concinna or Fungiscabra corals that both with wavy ridges.

This one probably a Fungi scruposa

A black Diadema setosum sea urchin

Saw this huge Holothuria leucospilota sea cucumber with the feeding tentacles out.A red egg crab (Atergatis integerrimus) andGreen egg crab (Atergatis floridus). Both crabs contain toxins in their tissues that can kill even human. It should not be consumed at all.We saw this land hermit crab when we are on the way to the jetty.While waiting for our boat at the jetty, we saw several of this big crocodile needlefish. This complete my first reefwalk of the new Chinese year. Really a 年年有鱼 experience! Thanks Ria for making this trip possible and will visit another island tomorrow.

Other blog entries about today's trip at:

Wildfilms & Nature Scouter Blog

Semakau Inter-tidal Walk 2008

The new season of Semakau inter-tidal walk is just around the corner. It has been a very enjoyable year for me last year, really can't wait to go back there.

You'll be able to catch the sun-rise,
as well as the sun-set over at Semakau. Below are just some of the many creatures that we saw during the 2007 inter-tidal walk.

We saw this big cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae) about the same time last year. Cushion star usually stays beyond subtidal area. Often seen by divers and it is very unusual and lucky to see them over at the inter-tidal area.

This is one of the many crabs that "armed" with long stalk eyes to look out for dangers. Uca vocans (female)Uca vocans (male)
Uca annulipes
Crab that with spoon shape pincers (Etisus laevimanu)

Atergatis integerrimus

Not forgetting the usual super star of Semakau - Knobbly sea star (Protoreaster nodosus)

A rock star (probably a Cryptasterina Sp.)Sea weed that with a very unique shape (propably a Colpomenia)

Carpet anemone with commensal shrimps

Bulb-tentacle sea anemone with nemo!
A very rare heart shape cockle (Corculum sp.)
Horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas) and many more exciting creatures that can be found no where else in Singapore.

Will we be able to find more species this year?... hmmmm I'm so excited.